SAINTED

A big Sainted and huge “Thank you” to the gal who was with a group of friends at the MSP Airport luggage carousel Sept. 27 after flying in on Icelandic Air. I hadn’t realized that my luggage handle had been damaged and had very sharp edges. I cut my hand and made a bloody mess. This gal took charge and got my hand cleaned up and bandaged. She had a full supply of all sizes of Band-Aids, gauze, tapes and disinfectant wipes in her purse. THEN, after fully caring for my hand, she pulled out duct tape to cover the sharp edges of my luggage handles.

I wish I had gotten her name so I could fully acknowledge her kindness and loving care. Her friends were also very kind and caring. Thank you to all.

BILL ELLIS, ST. PAUL

SAINTED

Sainted to Shelley Oney of F&S Acres miniature-horse farm, for delighting students at BridgeView School and Focus Beyond School in St. Paul by bringing her miniature horses Dr. Pepper and O.G. for visits. Students enjoy learning about the miniature horses and their care, and being able to interact with them. We are very grateful.

Rosalind Shore, St. Paul

TAINTED

I was enjoying a nice lunch with my 91-year-old father on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the 5-8 Grill & Tap on South Robert when a total stranger came up to me and complained that I was talking too loud! Seriously?

My father lost most of his hearing defending our country in World War II, as part of a mortar trio in the U.S. Army 70-plus years ago. I was merely speaking loud enough for him to hear me.

I hope this individual does not suggest that those on crutches or in wheelchairs should hurry up.

I also hope someday he will wake up and realize how terribly rude this was.

Jim Steiner, Vadnais Heights

SAINTED

I’m Sainting my hard-working cleaning person, Katie Sauve, who works her butt off once a month to make my apartment as neat and clean as possible — no easy task given that I, “Mr. Slob,” am her client.

I’m Tainting all of those who apply to work as Katie’s assistant but, when they find out real work is involved, often disappear, never to be seen again — or, if Katie gives them a tryout, bombard her with impossible demands about pay and working conditions and reveal they really don’t know the meaning of “an honest day’s work for an honest day’s wage.”

Withal, Katie will interview and try out everyone who says (s)he needs a job, will work hard, will know (s)he is being paid fairly and will make no unreasonable requests or demands about the job.

If you are lucky enough to be hired, at no extra charge, you will gain the friendship and wisdom of someone who is God-fearing and a diligent student of her Native heritage. You can’t put a price on those.

If you’re looking for a reliable house-cleaner who does the job right at a fair charge, give Kate a chance to show you what she can do. I have recommended her to friends who have joined her list of satisfied customers.

Willard B. Shapira, Roseville

SAINTED

While three of us were out for breakfast on Sunday, the 2nd of October, at Gallaghers in West St. Paul, we engaged in conversation with the next table. It turned out we recognized each other from Karaoke at Mancini’s. The gal’s name is Ivy, and she participates regularly in singing there. I would like to Saint her — because as she was leaving, she paid for our breakfast. Thank you, Ivy, and we will pay it forward.

Mary Lou Vining-Berg, Cottage Grove

TAINTED

Tainted: the large, overpriced cable company that has problems with their DVR recording software and continues to promise features they fail to deliver on.

Currently, for many sporting events, when you opt to record, a message is received that you need not worry about the game running long, because the recording “will be extended” if necessary so that you won’t miss the end of the event. This feature only works about half of the time. I have now missed, on several occasions, the ends of games that I was very interested in. The company should be embarrassed to provide equipment that doesn’t work properly — and, at the very least, not state capabilities which they are failing to provide.

I worked over 40 years for what was the largest Twin Cities defense contractor. Our company provided computers and software to track targets and control the firing of guns and torpedoes for every ship in the U.S. Navy at that time. If that equipment and software worked as pathetically as what is provided by this cable company, we would have sunk our own U.S. submarines and shot down our own airplanes.

Jerry Osiecki, Inver Grove Heights

SAINTED

On Sept. 17, I went to the Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul with my children and grandchildren. While touring the caboose, I dropped my cellphone, and didn’t notice that it was missing until sometime later, when I wanted to take photos of the kids. In a panic, I ran up to the service desk — and there it was, nicely sitting on the counter.

Thank you so much to the person who turned in my phone, and also thank you to the nice gentleman at the front desk who held on to it for me. It was greatly appreciated.

Vicki Gayles, St. Paul

SAINTED

A Sainted to Jacque Englund and Eagle Point Elementary in Oakdale.

After hearing about Buddy Benches (http://buddybench.org), Jacque Englund, a former student, made the bench for his Eagle Scout project. Parent volunteers Andrea La Point and Joe Gray painted the bench yellow and brown. Then all those creative Eagle Point first-graders, along with their fifth-grade buddies, decorated the bench with their handprints. Now when any child feels unsure of where to go on the playground or is maybe having a bad day or is just plain feeling shy, all they need to do is take a seat on the Buddy Bench and a new friend will appear to invite them to join in and play.

What a wonderful way to learn compassion, foster kindness and meet new friends.

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